Highway 101 widening at Marin-Sonoma Narrows next phase funded

Highway 101 widening at Marin-Sonoma Narrows next phase funded

The Sonoma County Transportation Authority (SCTA) took the final step needed to fully fund the next phase of Highway 101 in the Marin Sonoma Narrows. The project will open five miles of new lanes in each direction south of the Petaluma River Bridge.

“Today’s action finalizes a partnership between MTC and SCTA to deliver a longstanding project – adding a third lane to Hwy 101 in both directions across the Marin/Sonoma County line. We need to get this project built,” said Jake Mackenzie, SCTA Director from Rohnert Park and incoming Chair of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC).

“While we still have work to do, this project will give us new lanes from the Lakeville Highway 116 interchange all the way across the County line and help relieve traffic congestion,” said David Rabbitt, the SCTA Chair and County Supervisor representing the Petaluma area. “We are squeezing out as much value as possible from our local sales tax measure, matching it with State and federal funds and getting projects built.

Current construction in the area plus this new phase of work is expected to continue through 2019. SCTA manages the delivery and funding of Highway 101 projects in conjunction with Caltrans.

“This is great news,” said Kathy Miller, SCTA Director from Petaluma. “By keeping our focus on project delivery and making sure we are ready to go, we have been able to take advantage of every opportunity to secure the funding necessary to build the new HOV lanes."

Ultimately, the Marin Sonoma Narrows Project will widen 17 miles of Highway 101 from four to six lanes by adding one HOV lane in each direction; creating a controlled access freeway section through the historic “Narrows;” upgrading the highway to current freeway standards from Route 37 in Novato to Old Redwood Highway in Petaluma; and constructing new interchanges, frontage roads and bikeways. It is part of the overall regional plan to provide continuous HOV lanes through Marin and Sonoma Counties.

There is one phase of work remaining in Sonoma County which includes widening and soundwalls in Petaluma. Design is completed but the construction funding of $85M has not yet been identified.